I'm shopping for handguns and was curious what the advantages and disadvantages are between these two calibers. I see the .40 is little more expensive, but not enough to deter me from choosing that round. I'd be using this for carry and for target shooting.

.40 has more momentum, more energy, creates bigger holes, and is easier to get right now. 9mm is a little cheaper gives one or two more rounds, and recoils less for sissies who can't handle a mans gun.

Advantages of .40= more power, probably outgunning the criminals small calibers. One shot drop.
Disadvantages of .40= a little more expensive than 9.( It adds up if you plan on shooting a lot. More recoil (nothing a real man cant handle though).

Advantages of 9= less pricey, not much recoil, better accuracy( depending on the handgun model).
Disadvantages of 9= more than one shot to drop, one of the most common calibers today(hard to find).

I was thinking the same thing when I bought my first..I went with a .40
Dont regret it one bit..but hey your decision. Good luck..

Thanks for the feedback. I've shot 9mm handguns before but not the .40 I'm new to handguns, and trying to figure out what to get. I'll probably settle on 3 different types. I want to get a 1911 .45 ACP, a semi-auto .40 or 9mm and some kind of revolver. Not sure what yet. Maybe Taurus' new Judge. I bet that's fun to fire a .410 round through!

There's a gun store in my area that has a range and will let you shoot their rental guns. I'm probably going to go there and try a few out before I decide what I want to get.

There's a gun store in my area that has a range and will let you shoot their rental guns. I'm probably going to go there and try a few out before I decide what I want to get.

That's the best way to go.

I don't agree that .40SW is a "one shot drop." Heck, even .45ACP isn't guaranteed to do that. Any caliber needs good shot placement . . . and with good (enough) shot placement, any caliber will kill. Sorry to use a semi-morbid example, but President Reagan came very close to dying from Hinckley's .22LR -- and that hit was a ricochet, but dangerously placed.

Using hollow-points, the differences between 40 and 9 narrow significantly.

If money is no object, going with the 40's greater power is an easy choice.

In a SHTF/TEOTWAWKI, the greater abundance of 9 might give it an edge.

9mm vs. .40 S&W, I would feel confident with both because I understand only good hits will stop a threat. A .40 S&W gut shot will be less effective than a 9mm rnd to the vitals for example.

I would shoot both rnds from the same types of platforms like Glock's, Springfield XD's and Beretta's see which cal. you can shoot the fastest with the most accuracy out of similar gun type.

I've owned both 9mm and .40 S&W among others but settled on carrying only .45acp because the 1911 is my favorite platform (the Sig P-220 .45acp is my second favorite) and it keeps things simple ammo. wise.

1 shot drop is only achieved by well placed shot's of a decent cal. in the vitals.

If we're talking manly calibers, forget all that and get the 10mm. Load it up with real 10mm ammo (not watered down crap). If you want a nice 1911, Kimber makes 2 10mms, Dan Wesson makes at least 2, and Fusion Arms makes all of their full size and Commander size in it. Get a man's gun. Get the 10mm.

I've never owned a .40 but have several 9's. get one built for +P 124 gr rounds and it's in .357 mag energy levels with the 4" bbl. all you will ever need for stopping power. of course good placement is essential as is any caliber.

Ok now lets please not hijack this thread with all that 45 and 10mm talk. This thread is about 9mm and 40.

I addressed the OP's original question and only stated what worked best for myself because I had too may ammo. choices owning multiple cal.'s I never said .45acp was the end all nor that the OP should get .45acp. On the other hand the OP stated in his second post he had intrest in the 1911 .45acp as well, didn't think I was "hijacking".

I have a 40 and a 9mm, I'll stick with the 9. The 40 is a castrated 10 and a homosexual wannabe big bore. 40 owners know it that is why so many of them try to call their guns a 10.

I don't try to call my 40s&w a 10mm. I call it a 40 because that is what it is. That is like trying to call a 7.62x39 a 308. 40 is more powerful and has greater muzzle energy than a 9mm and makes a bigger hole.

I've never owned a .40 but have several 9's. get one built for +P 124 gr rounds and it's in .357 mag energy levels with the 4" bbl. all you will ever need for stopping power. of course good placement is essential as is any caliber.

HAHAHAHA what orifice did you pull that claim out of? A 124gr. 9mm+P will do about 1300 FPS from a 4 inch barrel, a 124gr. .357 out of a 4 inch barrel will do about 1600FPS, not even close in energy levels.

HAHAHAHA what orifice did you pull that claim out of? A 124gr. 9mm+P will do about 1300 FPS from a 4 inch barrel, a 124gr. .357 out of a 4 inch barrel will do about 1600FPS, not even close in energy levels.